With the alarming rise in child sexual abuse cases, the Punjab Ministry of Education has implemented stringent measures to ensure the safety of students. The new mandate requires all schools, both government and private, to prevent students from leaving the school premises during school hours and recreational periods.
The directive instructs school principals to station security guards and watchmen at the main gates during off-hours. These personnel are tasked with ensuring that children remain within the school grounds until they are collected by a parent or sibling.
This initiative is being rapidly enforced, with district and tehsil education officers responsible for informing school heads about the circular’s contents. They are also required to report on the implementation status by 25 July. To maintain vigilance, a watchman, naib qasidas, and a designated teacher or focal person must be present at the schools, as specified in the circular.
The first schools to implement these measures will be in Murree, Kotli Sattian, and Kahuta, where schools are currently open. Other schools will follow suit after the summer vacation.
The Ministry of Education has stressed a zero-tolerance policy for any lapses in the strict enforcement of these measures, particularly in private schools. Yaseen Baloch, the CEO of Rawalpindi District Education Authority, has confirmed the enforcement of this order in open educational institutions in hilly tehsils.
This action was triggered by the publication of a report titled ‘Cruel Number’ by an NGO advocating for child protection in Pakistan. The report revealed a shocking 4,253 child sexual abuse cases reported across the country in 2022 alone. Tragically, children aged six to 15 years were found to be at the highest risk, with more male victims than female victims. Instances of sexual abuse involving children as young as five years old were also reported.
While Punjab witnessed the majority of reported cases, other provinces also recorded instances of child abuse. In light of this alarming situation, the Ministry of Education’s action to protect students throughout the province is a crucial step toward ensuring the safety of children in schools.
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